Gmail is one of the most popular free email clients, for a good reason. It’s simple, organized, does a great job filtering out spam, and provides free POP and IMAP options. This is why it’s really no surprise that so many people want to use it for personal and business purposes.

Gmail’s ubiquity and adoption inspired us to create a Chrome extension for the Dynamics CRM Integration with Gmail. Our goal was to create a way for people to perform the most common CRM tasks directly from Gmail, such as tracking emails, working with activities and creating records and contacts. Based on initial success and user uptake of the original implementation, today we’re releasing a new version of our Dynamics CRM Integration for Gmail Chrome Extension with improved functionality, and a great new look that fits right into the Google style.

Version 3 Features

Increased Email Tracking Functionality

Our aim with Dynamics CRM Integration for Gmail V3 is to make email tracking easier, so that users are not forced to take extra steps in organizing a CRM workflow. This is achieved with a new user interface and experience which fits seamlessly into the Gmail design for quick access to all CRM email tracking tools within the extension.

Now users are also able to quickly create new CRM entities directly from Gmail. All necessary attributes and set up options for relationships are included within the “Track Email” option. Users need only click save and close CRM and the new record will appear in the Gmail extension.

The new version also allows for users to get a quick glance of any emails currently being tracked with Dynamics CRM with green arrows, versus those which are not being track marked with red arrows.

As with previous versions, tracking emails can be set by “Record Type” within the “Set Regarding” tab in the “Track Email” option. This is a CRM iFrame connecting directly to your account in Dynamics.

Calendar Syncing

Users are now able to sync their Dynamics CRM calendar with Gmail or their Google Calendar with Dynamics CRM. For those of us who have several calendars on many different clients, this is a huge value add.

Create and Review CRM Activities

The “Activities” tab for version 3 of Dynamics CRM Integration for Gmail has been completely redesigned to support all types of CRM Activities. The “Activity” card displays detailed information snippets such as due date, time and duration, subject, priority, and descriptions (short and long versions). All activity fields are clickable and users can quickly open each “Activity” in CRM. In addition, we added the ability to filter, sort and search activities. Similar to the Dynamics CRM view/functionality, right in your Gmail. Finally, there is a new option to quickly create any type of “Activity” directly from Gmail to further the efficiency of your time and strategy.

Connecting with Akvelon’s Global Search

Dynamics CRM Integration with Gmail works great with Global Search and Global Preview applications. These separate tools for Dynamics CRM allow users to search, view, and navigate their CRM entities in one place. All tracked emails, contacts, leads, etc., created in Gmail will be available immediately in Dynamics CRM and in Global Search results.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is definitely an upcoming and interesting topic that we are very familiar with – you can check out what we have done with IoT here.

For those of you who do not know what the concept of Internet of Things is, it is a “scenario in which objects, animals or people are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction” –What Is.

IoT is an important concept to learn, because it is expected to grow rapidly in the following years. We are perceived to have countless devices and systems connected – anything from wearables (watches, socks, shirts) to home automation (refrigerators, toasters, coffee makers). IoT is connecting objects to humans just with the touch of a button.

The main reason for this growth is due to the massive growth and adoption of sensors that convert physical data to digital content. What do we mean by this? Well, internet connectivity can be added to any physical object – such as clothing, vehicles, household appliances, diapers (yes, diapers), medical devices, and industrial and mechanical controls.

We have compiled a list of what we believe are the top 10 upcoming IoT devices and companies. We hope you enjoy, and please, feel free to tell us your thoughts! This list is in no particular order.

FACIAL RECOGNITION DOOR –

CHUI

Chui is an intelligent doorbell that uses facial recognition to make your home keyless, secure, and individualized. With Chui, your face becomes a key that can unlock the front door, while enabling connected devices tailored to your preferences. Relax in confidence, knowing Chui will automatically notify you and your loved ones of who’s at the door. Sleek and stylish, Chui does more than enable a house that is smart – Chui shapes a home that is you.

AUTOMATED THERMOSTAT –

NEST

Most people don’t program their thermostats – it’s just too complicated. And that wastes a lot of energy. So we made it simple. The Nest Learning Thermostat programs itself and can be controlled from your phone. With Auto-Away™, the Nest Thermostat automatically turns to an energy-efficient Away temperature when you’re gone. Auto-Away works in 90% of homes, even if your Nest is in a spot you don’t pass on your way out the door.

SMART CLOTHES –

SENSORIA

The Sensoria smart socks are infused with proprietary 100% textile sensors to detect parameters important to your running form including cadence and foot landing technique. The socks connect to the innovative light weight anklet which wirelessly relay data during your run to the Sensoria Fitness mobile app. The Sensoria Fitness smart t-shirt provides accurate and consistent heart rate monitoring, with any Bluetooth devices and also works with their app.

WIRELESS PILL BOTTLES –

ADHERETECH

AdhereTech smart wireless pill bottles are currently being used by patients in pharmaceutical and research engagements. These bottles collect and send all adherence data in real-time. The system automatically analyzes this information and populates the data on our secure dashboard. If doses are missed, patients can receive customizable alerts and interventions – using automated phone calls, text messages, and more.

MOTHER –

SEN.SE

“Whatever you need, whenever you want”. Mother and the Motion Cookies are a family of smart sensors that you can set in two minutes to perform the functions you want and that you can change as often as you need. Small and slick, they can be affixed to almost anything. They are really smart and can detect and analyze the movements of objects and people. They include a sensor that measures the surrounding temperature. They can be used to detect the presence of the object or the person they are attached to.

SMART TOOTHBRUSH –

KOLIBREE

The Kolibree was developed with the strong involvement of recognized dental professionals to help you improve your dental health. Electric vibrating toothbrush, 3D motion sensors, Bluetooth® connectivity to smartphones and tablets. Motivate and check your children’s brushing with games. Encourage dental professionals to interact with their patients and encourage 3rd party designers to develop creative apps. Manage your actions and keep an eye on your brushing sessions and get oral health tips from dental professionals.

SMART DIAPERS –

PIXIE SCIENTIFIC

Yaroslav Faybishenko, who started Pixie with his wife, Jennie, the diapers have patches at the front with several colored squares that change color as they react to different compounds, such as water content, proteins or bacteria. The diapers are accompanied by a smartphone app that can read the data and send it to a physician. On the inside, that panel contains several non-toxic test strips situated underneath the absorbent core, so they never actually touch the child’s skin. Once the diaper is wet, the strips react to leukocytes, nitrates, and a variety of other substances that could each indicate different health problems.

iKETTLE –

SMARTER

Pre-boil via your App. With the wifi kettle you can start boiling your kettle from anywhere in the house. Using the wifi kettle app you will save up to two days a year by pre-boiling your kettle saving you up to five minutes at a time. The wifi kettle is smart, it will tell you when your hot water is ready to pour, remind you to refill and tell you when the kettle is empty. Set the kettle to automatically turn on when you pull up on the drive so its ready and waiting for you when you walk through the door.

CHILLHUB –

FIRSTBUILD

A refrigerator with USB capabilities and WiFi connected. This will give us a platform to create awesome new add-on products like a butter softener compartment, food scale/weight sensor, deodorizer, auto-fill water pitcher, temperature modules, baby bottle IR, external speakers, voice control, etc. ChillHub is a refrigerator with two seamlessly integrated USB hubs. This first-of-its-kind platform enables development of new hardware products that benefit from operating inside a cooled space.

SMART CARS –

GOOGLE AND MERCEDES

Mercedes-Benz In order to provide a foundation for the new autonomous F 015 Luxury in Motion research vehicle, an interdisciplinary team of experts from Mercedes-Benz has devised a future scenario that incorporates many different aspects of day-to-day mobility. Above and beyond its mobility function, this scenario perceives the motor car as a private retreat that additionally offers an important added value for society at large.

Google’s self-driving cars are designed to navigate safely through city streets. They have sensors designed to detect objects as far as two football fields away in all directions, including pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles—or even fluttering plastic shopping bags and rogue birds. The software processes all the information to help the car safely navigate the road without getting tired or distracted.

26 Jul Two New Customizable and Efficient Releases from Microsoft

Customization and efficiency have always been important to businesses. To some it may seem obvious, but in reality, these two software features are frequently overlooked.

Akvelon is proud to have worked on two new releases from Microsoft which were made available last week. The first, Azure Analysis Services Web Designer, efficiently brings the capabilities of AAS right to your web browser. The second, the Power KPI add-on for Power BI, which contains some truly powerful customization capabilities.

Azure Analysis Services Web Designer

At the Microsoft Data Insights Summit in June of this year, Josh Caplan of Microsoft announced the Azure Analysis Services Web Designer with a demo of its features.

Released last week, this new product provides enhancements to the Azure Analysis Services experience by allowing users to easily update their production models on a daily basis with the most relevant information to everyone on an account, all through a web browser. Users can also tune existing models through a web browser and still incorporate Power BI, Excel, and Visual Studio within the models.

Model creation, model editing and queries are the three major capabilities featured in this first release. SQL Server Data Tools and SQL Server Management Studio are still main tools for development, but the AAS Web Designer is great for using existing SQL data for simple changes, starting new models, or adding new measures to a development or production model.

This has already proved to be an efficient tool and more functionality will be released each month, make sure to watch for more soon.

Powerful Customization with Power KPI

The power KPI add-on to Power BI was also recently released, it brings a new level of customization to KPI indicators. Power KPI allows for visualizing key performance indicators while allowing users to customize everything from the titles, data points, hover-over tooltips, colors, font sizes, labels and more. Charts also auto-scale when resizing.

Developers from Akvelon did an incredible job working with Microsoft to create this beautiful presentation tool.

Power KPI is a great way to present KPIs that look great, plain and simple. Watch the video below to see for yourself.